This book just made me happy.

Totally selfish, I picked this one for me, not for any of the kids, because of the picture on the cover. It looks exactly like my favourite corner in my favourite second hand bookshop (which sadly no longer exists), that I used to visit with my parents at least twice a month.
The story itself is cute, with smart and savvy girl protagonists, and lots of interesting points to discuss with young readers; Emily Dickinson and Danielle Steel; sonnets, haiku and poetry in general; nature preservation, ecology and recycling. ( )

Emily is trapped in a destiny that she isn't sure is actually hers. Named for the poet Emily Dickinson, her mother has big dreams that Emily will become a famous poet someday. Unfortunately, Emily isn't a big fan of poetry. In fact, she'd much rather read Danielle Steel and swoon over the happy endings. Who wouldn't?

I fell utterly in love with Emily and her friends. Each and every character in this book pops off the page. Emily is inquisitive, bright and witty. Some of the things she says made me giggle out loud, especially the dialogue between her and her best friend. With an intelligence far beyond her age, she's quite a charming little girl! Surrounding her are characters with all types of personalities, from Mortie who is a little army survivalist, to Cecily Ann who is the true poet. The tapestry of personalities here is wonderful and full. I can't gush enough.

Best of all is the story line. This isn't just your typical coming-of-age story. Emily is on a mission both to find her true path in life, and to find her missing father. Watching her navigate the roadblocks that pop up in her way was exciting, and the question of destiny vs. choice plays a big factor here. Young readers will be enamored with her journey, and the lack of any real angst in the story helps keep things light.

Even if I wasn't a giant fan of Middle Grade fiction, which I completely am, I'd still recommend this charming book! This is a light, sweet and enjoyable read. Ready to dive into something fun? Destiny, Rewritten is definitely a book to add to your reading list. ( )

I have really have mixed feelings about this book..... I liked the story but I don't believe that I liked the writing, it seemed to be a tad bit run on and at the beginning "chatty". The story is about destiny, controlling that destiny, and taking random action that is out of character in order to change destiny.
The story takes place in San Francisco with a young girl, Emily (named after Emily Dickinson) who has decided against her mother's wishes she will not be a "Great Poet" rather a writer of romance novels..... Emily lives with her mother (an English Professor & a writer for Hallmark), her younger brother (he's going into the Military), and her Aunt (who has a need for order).
Emily's mother believes that she sealed Emily's destiny when she bought "The Complete Works of Emily Dickinson" and inscribed it to Emily at birth..... The "Book" has special meaning; for not only was it inscribed to Emily at birth, Emily's mother made notations about their lives throughout the "Book" next to specific poems that reflect the specific event. There is even a notation in the "Book" about Emily's unknown father.
Emily begins to ask questions about her father, Emily's mother reveals that the answer is in the "Book" and just as Emily is about to search for the answer, her brother gives the "Book" away with various other things that are going to the local thrift shop.
Throughout the story are Emily's letters to Danielle Steel which mostly go unanswered, until the letter about losing the "Book".... to which Emily receives a response from Danielle's A.A. and a holy card of St. Jude.
There is also: a group of of environmentalists who are tree-sitting trying to keep the local university from cutting down an ancient stand of oaks; Emily's best friend who is a science whiz; and a friend who aspires to be a great poet.....
The book came to a satisfying conclusion. ( )

I received this book as a goodreads first read giveaway. It is a charming book aimed at middle-grade girls. Only the protagagonist's character was explored. The others were rather flat. The idea of destiny and whether we have a say in it was explored in a way that a grade 6 would understand. I will give it to a grade 6 girl that I know who is an avid reader and see what she thinks. ( )

Adult Reader Reaction: This book came as a surprise. I loved The Year the Swallows Came Early from cover to cover. This one took a little more work and It took me a while to get into the story. Emily is a great character, and I loved her voice; but her exchanges with other characters — particularly Wavey — left me dizzy. Sometimes dialogue can be too short. I have to say, though, that I loved the conversation in Haiku between Emily and Connor. Brilliant!

Pros: Everything about this book is poetic — from the main character’s name, to the poetry unit at school, to conversations being shared as poems. Kids who love poetry and writing will enjoy every little thing about Destiny, Rewritten.

To read our full review, go to The Reading Tub®.